MANSFIELD — Mansfield council welcomed a different kind of visitor to its meeting Tuesday.
Propping his front legs atop the podium in council chambers, K9 Xaro smiled at members of council as they wished him and his handler, Mansfield Police Officer Stephen Hornback, a happy retirement from the Mansfield Police Department.
Hornback served as a member of the Mansfield Division of Police for 19 years, spending over half his career in the K9 Unit.
During K9 Xaro’s tenure with the Mansfield PD, he was responsible for tracking and locating numerous suspects and drugs, resulting in the arrests of several suspects.
Council paid tribute to these retirees, as well as Firefighter Wesley Welch, who has retired from the Mansfield Fire Department.
Council also approved the rezoning of seven lots at Vine Street and Oakenwaldt Avenue from R-2 (residential district) to I-1 (limited impact industrial dictrict).
The rezoning application was submitted by the Breitinger Company, a business located at 595 OakenWaldt Avenue.
“They’re wishing to rezone this property to build a 5,200 square foot warehouse,” said J.R. Rice, manager of the codes and permits department. The warehouse will be used for storing the company’s materials and could result in the creation of a few jobs, Rice said.
Another piece of legislation approved by council Tuesday allows for a new position in the Utility Collections Division — a foreman. This is a non-bargaining position that would over oversee the field workers.
“The reason why we want to add the foreman is to give the installers and meter readers a direct supervisor to expedite shut-offs, turn-ons — control that aspect of utility collections — which is just as important as collecting the money,” said Dave Remy, director of the human resources department.
During caucus, council discussed legislation concerning the replacement of the elevator system in the Mansfield Municipal Building.
The legislation would authorize the safety-service director to enter into a contract(s) for the replacement of the elevator system for an amount not to exceed $900,000.
According to Mayor Tim Theaker, the elevators break down about once every two weeks and due to their age, acquiring parts for them now is almost impossible, he said.
